U.S. patent number 4,887,875 [Application Number 07/185,346] was granted by the patent office on 1989-12-19 for fiber optic connector for use in temporary repair of multiple fiber cable.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Amphenol Corporation. Invention is credited to Darrin J. Bergman, Peter Chang, Donald W. Duda.
United States Patent |
4,887,875 |
Chang , et al. |
December 19, 1989 |
Fiber optic connector for use in temporary repair of multiple fiber
cable
Abstract
A fiber optic connector is provided for use in temporary repair
of broken fiber optic cables. The connector comprises a ceramic
plug having a front end and a rear end and a passageway extending
through the plug with the passageway sized to snugly receive a
buffer stripped optical fiber therethrough in a manner such that
the fiber extends out the front end of the plug. The passageway has
a size proximate the rear end thereof to permit a portion of buffer
covered optical fiber to received therein and thus serves, at the
narrow portion of the passageway, as a stop limiting the amount of
forward movement of the fiber. A plug support serves to support the
rear end of the ceramic plug and includes a passageway coextensive
with the plug passageway. The wall surfaces of the passageway are
such that they cooperate with a chuck which is attached to the plug
support which has clamping fingers such that when the clamping
fingers engage the wall surface, they serve to close down upon a
buffer covered fiber to securely hold the buffer covered fiber
within the connector.
Inventors: |
Chang; Peter (Lisle, IL),
Bergman; Darrin J. (Naperville, IL), Duda; Donald W.
(Williams Bay, WI) |
Assignee: |
Amphenol Corporation
(Wallingford, CT)
|
Family
ID: |
26881070 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/185,346 |
Filed: |
April 25, 1988 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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921933 |
Oct 20, 1986 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
385/60 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B
6/3835 (20130101); G02B 6/3855 (20130101); G02B
6/3858 (20130101); G02B 6/3831 (20130101); G02B
6/3851 (20130101); G02B 6/3854 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G02B
6/38 (20060101); G02B 006/36 () |
Field of
Search: |
;350/96.2,96.21 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Heyman; John S.
Assistant Examiner: Callahan; Timothy P.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bacon & Thomas
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 921,933,
filed 10/20/86.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fiber optic connector comprising:
a ceramic plug having a front end and a rear end, a plug passageway
extending through said plug with said plug passageway sized to
snugly receive a buffer stripped optical fiber therethrough in a
manner extending out the front end, said plug passageway having a
size proximate the rear end such as to permit a portion of buffer
covered optical fiber to the received therein;
a plug support supporting the rear end of the ceramic plug, said
plug support having a plug support passageway coextensive with said
plug passageway, a biasing wall surface in said plug support
passageway at a location proximate to the rear end of said ceramic
plug and a threaded inner wall portion along said plug support
passageway;
chuck means having clamping means for holding a buffer covered
fiber, said chuck means having a passageway extending therethrough
coextensively with the plug support passageway whereby an optical
fiber can be passed from the rear thereof therethrough into said
ceramic plug, said chuck means having threads thereon such that it
is engageable to the threads on said inner wall portion of said
plug support in a manner such that said biasing wall surface
engages said clamping means to cause said clamping means to
securely seize a buffer covered fiber received therein.
2. A connector as in claim 1 further comprising a coupling nut
received over said plug support for coupling to an adapter
constructed for interconnecting two fiber optic connectors
together.
3. A connector as in claim 1 wherein said clamping means comprises
a plurality of tapered spring fingers and said biasing wall surface
comprises a sloped wall, sloped to conform to the taper of said
spring fingers making up said clamping means.
4. A connector as in claim 1 further comprising a stop in the
passageway in said plug passage for preventing buffer covered fiber
from being passed out the front end of said plug whereby only
buffer stripped fiber can be passed.
5. A connector as in claim 2 further comprising key means for
ensuring repeatable relative rotational positioning of the
connector upon multiple connections and disconnections.
6. A connector as in claim 1 wherein the chuck means contains a
lubricating coating.
7. A connector as in claim 6 wherein said coating in
polytetrafluoroethylene polymer .
8. A connector as in claim 5 wherein said key means comprises a
sleeve surrounding said ceramic plug and a key mechanism protruding
along one portion of said sleeve.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved fiber optic connector of
simple structure for use in the rapid temporary repair of ruptured
or cut cables having optical fibers therein.
In present day fiber optic long line telephone communications fiber
optic cables containing anywhere between 12 to 72 fibers are
employed which permit a high volume of telephone communications to
be conducted. However, due to the nature of the material of the
cable, i.e., the fibers, these cables are often subject to damage
from a variety of different sources, for example, standard
construction digging and/or accidents wherein a vehicle impacts
against the cable thus severing the cable and fibers therein. These
disruptions are often very expensive costing the various
telecommunication companies involved whose cable is severed up to
$200,000 per minute for the time that the cable is severed. It thus
becomes necessary to quickly and accurately reconnect the various
fibers to each other.
Various techniques for repairing or joining cables which have been
damaged or broken are known in the prior art. One prior art
technique for joining cables provides that the ends of the cables
to be joined together are first reduced in diameter by using a
swagging technique. A portion of each end is then removed to reveal
the conductors to be joined together. After the conductors have
been joined together, a longitudinally slotted length of tubing is
placed around the exposed joined conductors. The tubing is then
filled with a suitable insulation material such as powdered mineral
insulation by inserting the insulation material into the tubing
through the slot. The length of the tubing is then closed by
welding and connected to the cable ends by welding or brazing. The
entire joint is then drawn about the conductor joint to provide the
joined cables with a substantially uniform outside diameter. Such a
technique is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,720 to Bourget.
Another prior art technique is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,874
to Winter et al. which provides a method for repairing or joining
together optical fiber cables by using a ferrule to connect two
optical fiber lengths. Each cable length comprises a metal tube
containing one or more optical fibers and a filler material. The
ferrule is placed in overlapping relationship with each tube and a
lap joint is effected between the ferrule and each tube. An outer
sleeve having a length substantially equal to a gap between the
tubes is formed about the ferrule and is bonded to each tube. The
outer sleeve preferably has an outer periphery substantially
corresponding to the outer periphery of the tube so that the joined
cable has a substantially continuous surface.
Other examples of prior art fiber repair kits are disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,367,019 to Gray and U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,614 to
Liertz.
Although providing effective means of joining fibers together of
ruptured or broken cables, in practice all of these prior art
teachings are time consuming and do not solve the problem of the
extensive cost involved when such a cable is ruptured or severed.
Accordingly, it becomes apparent that what is needed is a quick
temporary reconnection device which will repair and maintain the
telecommunication lines intact until such time as an adequate
substitute fiber optic cable can be placed under service in place
of the temporarily repaired cable.
Accordingly, in accordance with the invention conventional
permanent connector technology such as that, for example,
illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,474 and in the Assignees
copending application Ser. No. 892,976 which was filed Aug. 4,
1986, and whose disclosure is specifically incorporated by
reference herein, are combined with temporary fiber aligning and
positioning technology such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,537,466 to provide a new and improved temporary connector which
provides precise alignment of fibers relative to each other and
permits quick and temporary repair of ruptured or broken fiber
optic cables.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention there is provided a fiber optic
connector comprising a ceramic plug having a front end and a rear
end. A passageway extends through the plug with he passageway sized
to snugly receive a buffer stripped optical fiber therethrough in a
manner extending out the front end of the plug. The passageway has
a size proximate the rear end such as to permit a portion of buffer
covered optical fiber to be received therein. A plug support
supports the rear end of the ceramic plug. The plug support has a
passageway which is coextensive with the plug passageway, and
includes biasing wall surfaces in the support passageway at a
location proximate to the rear end of the ceramic plug. Chuck means
having clamping means for holding a fiber is provided, with the
chuck means having a passageway extending therethrough
coextensively with the plug support passageway whereby an optical
fiber can be passed therethrough and into the ceramic plug to
extend from front end of the ceramic plug. The chuck means is
engagable to the plug support in a manner such that the biasing
wall surface is engaged the clamping means to cause the clamping
means to securely seize a buffer covered fiber received therein.
When a fiber is assembled within said connector in the manner
described, it will extend from the rear of the chuck means through
the connector and beyond the front face of the ceramic plug. It
then becomes necessary to cleave it flush with the front face of
the ceramic ferrule. To this end, a technique similar to that
disclosed in assignee's copending application Ser. No. 474,099
which was filed Mar. 10, 1983, and which has now been allowed, and
whose disclosure is specifically incorporated by reference herein
can be used to effect a flush cleaving of the fiber at the front
end of the ceramic ferrule.
In a still more specific aspect, the connector comprises a coupling
nut received over the plug support for coupling to an adapter
constructed for interconnecting two fiber optic connectors
together. Such an adapter is of conventional construction and well
known to those of ordinary skill in the art and need not be
discussed in further detail herein. In essence, in accordance with
the invention there is provided what is typically referred to in
the art as an SMA style connector. In this case, the connector is a
temporary connector which is intermatable with other standard SMA
type connectors, of which the connector disclosed in copending U.S.
application Ser. No. 892,976 is illustrative.
In still another aspect, the biasing wall surface of the plug
support comprises a sloped wall sloped in the same manner as the
slope of split fingers making up the clamping means of the chuck
means. The chuck means is engageable to the plug support by means
of threads on the outer surface of the chuck means which are
engageable with like threads on the inner walls of the plug support
passageway. As previously noted, the connector comprises a stop in
the passageway in the plug passage for preventing buffer covered
fiber from being passed out the front end of the plug whereby only
buffer stripped fiber can be passed within the precisely machined
passage. In a still further aspect, it is noted that the walls of
the passage of the chuck means are coated with a lubricating
coating, for example, the coating can be a PTFE polymer such as is
conventionally available under the trade name Teflon.TM..
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus briefly described the invention, the same will become
better understood from the following detailed discussion made with
reference to the attached drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side side-sectional view of the connector in accordance
with the invention shown partially assembled but with no fiber
shown therein for ease of understanding; and
FIG. 2 is a disassembled view of the connector in accordance with
the invention showing the chuck means disassembled from the plug
support and plug assembly of the connector in accordance with the
invention.
DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION
A connector in accordance where the invention is shown in FIGS. 1
and 2. It comprises a ceramic ferrule 1 having a passageway 9,11
extending therethrough with a narrower portion 9 sized to snugly
receive a buffer stripped fiber therein and a wider portion 11
which serves as a guide channel through ramp surfaces 13 to guide
the fiber through and into the passage 9 to extend out the front
thereof. As shown therein, the passageway 9 is sized to receive a
buffer stripped fiber such that a predetermined amount of buffer
material can be stripped from a fiber when being inserted in the
connector. Accordingly, the ramp surface 13 serves as a stop and a
guide for precise positioning of the fiber. The ceramic ferrule 1
is supported in press-fit engagement within a front body 14. Front
body 14 includes a passageway 15 extending therethrough which is
coextensive with passageway 9, 11 in the ceramic ferrule 1.
Supported on the front body 14 is a key member 3 which includes a
key mechanism 5 for the purpose insuring the same reltative
rotational position of the connector member when connected to an
adapter in the event that a connection and reconnection needs to be
effected thus, preventing scaring of the face of the fiber
extending flush at the front end of the ferrule 1. A coupling nut 7
of conventional construction is mounted on the front body 14 as
shown therein. This coupling nut 7 combines with a conventional
washer 7a to provide the means for attaching the connector to an
adapter for connection to a compatible connector.
As already discussed, the front body 14 includes the passageway 15
therein which is coextensive with passageway 9, 11, and which
includes a sloped ramp surface 21 which serves as a biasing means
as will be explained hereinafter. Furthermore, a threaded inner
wall portion 25 serves to engage a fiber chuck 27 which will be
discussed also hereinafter.
Fiber chuck 27 includes a passageway 17 extending therethrough
which opens at the front and rear ends of the chuck 27. At the
front end it includes clamp fingers 19 which serve seize a fiber
when the chuck member 27 is threaded at threads 23 fully into the
front body 14. This is better shown in FIG. 2 which shows the front
body 14 and the chuck 27 separated from each other. To facilitate
insertion of a fiber and clamping within the connector, the walls
of passageway 17 which extends through the rear body portion and
out the rear end of the chuck member 27 are preferably coated with
a lubricating material, more preferably a PTFE polymer such as is
conventionally available under the trade name Teflon.TM..
In use in temporarily repairing fiber optic cables, the chuck 27 is
partially threaded at threads 23 to the front body 14 a fiber
having predetermined length of fibers stripped of buffer material
at the front end thereof. The fiber is then inserted from the rear
of the chuck member 27 through the chuck member 27 through
passageway 17 thereof into passageway 11 and through passageway 9
so that the fiber stripped of buffer material extends out the front
of the ferrule 1. The portion of the fiber not stripped of buffer
abuts at sloped wall portion 13 as a stop. Thereafter, threading of
the chuck member 27 is continued until walls 21 engage the spring
fingers 19 at the front end thereof and are thereby forced to close
onto the buffer covered fiber to securely hold the fiber at that
point. Tightening is conducted to finger pressure. Thereafter, with
the fiber extending out the front face of the ferrule 1, the fiber
is cleaved flush with the end of the ferrule and the assembly is
ready for connection to a matable connector through an adapter of
conventional construction. As noted previously, the flush cleaving
method can be conducted, for example, as in the method disclosed in
U.S. application Ser. No. 474,099 which was filed Mar. 10, 1983 and
which is now U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,520.
With respect to the materials employed in the invention, it is
noted that the ferrule 1 is preferably of ceramic material. The
rest of the parts can be made of conventional metal, for example,
stainless steel, and as noted, the passageway 17 of the chuck 27 is
preferably coated with a lubricant material such as, for example,
PTFE polymer. As to the press-fit positioning of the ferrule 1 so
that it extends a precisely known amount from the front body 14,
the method of assembling the ferrule to the front body 14 can be
conducted, for example, as disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No.
892,976 which was filed Aug. 4, 1986 and whose disclosure is
specifically incorporated by reference herein.
Having above indicated a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art
that modifications and alternatives can be practiced within the
spirit of the invention. It is accordingly, intended to define the
scope of the invention only as indicated in the following
claims.
* * * * *